The historical connection between religion and war: who is really their God?

**"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword." — Matthew 26:52, NIV.**

The history of humanity is filled with wars and conflicts, often justified by religious motives. Surprisingly, many large-scale military campaigns have had the explicit approval of religious leaders, who blessed wars and conquests in the name of God. In these contexts, a priest's or religious leader's blessing often became the moral justification for people to commit acts of violence, convinced that they were following a "divine will." This phenomenon, repeated over the centuries, raises a fundamental question: who is the "God" that justifies such acts?

The Crusades: "God wills it!" as a justification for violence

The Crusades are perhaps the most emblematic example of a religious war justified by the Church. From the 11th to the 15th century, Western Europe launched a series of military campaigns to reconquer "infidel" lands, primarily against Muslims, pagans, and heretics. Pope Urban II, in his speech at the Council of Clermont in 1095, urged Christians to take up arms to free Jerusalem. From that moment, the cry "Deus vult" ("God wills it") became the symbolic slogan of the Crusades.

This simple battle cry turned millions of ordinary people into soldiers convinced that their cause was sacred, justifying every atrocity committed along the way. During the Crusades, entire cities were destroyed, thousands of lives were lost, and the concept of morality was distorted in the name of "divine will." However, behind all of this was a clear direction from the Catholic Church, which sought not only to expand its temporal power but also to consolidate its spiritual authority.

"Gott mit uns": Is God really with us?

Throughout history, various armies and political leaders have continued to use religion as a means of justifying war. A significant example is the motto "Gott mit uns" ("God is with us"), widely used by the Prussian army and later by Nazi German soldiers. During World War I and II, this phrase was engraved on belt buckles and uniforms to reinforce the idea that German forces acted with divine support.

In the context of Nazi Germany, "Gott mit uns" became a powerful propaganda tool, pushing soldiers to believe that their mission of invasion and destruction was justified by God himself. This religious manipulation not only distorted the concept of justice but created a dangerous link between faith and violence, with devastating consequences for millions of people.

A disturbing return: "God is with us" in contemporary Russia

Today, eighty years after World War II, we witness the disturbing return of this slogan, this time in Russia. During the invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022, the slogan "We are Russians, God is with us" became a key element of Russian military propaganda. This religious appeal is used to justify the occupation of Ukrainian territories, fueling the idea that the invasion is a sacred and righteous mission.

The rise of nationalist movements in Russia and the use of religious symbols like "God is with us" have made it easier for the Russian government to gain the population's consent, as they feel justified in fighting in the name of a supposed divine will. The support of the Russian Orthodox Church, led by Patriarch Kirill, has been crucial in this mass manipulation effort. Kirill, in his patriotic sermons, has repeatedly emphasized that "if God is with us, no force can defeat us," further reinforcing the idea that Russia's military intervention is divinely ordained.

The manipulation of religion: a millennial mechanism

The fundamental question remains: how is it possible that religions, which teach love, forgiveness, and peace, are often instrumentalized to justify violence and war? The answer lies in the manipulation of beliefs by religious and political leaders, who use religion as a powerful tool to control and influence the masses. Through history, from the medieval Catholic Church to the Nazi regime and contemporary Russia, we see that religion can be turned into an effective propaganda weapon.

Behind many of these manipulations is a larger agenda: power and control. Wars are not just conflicts over territory or resources, but battles for the souls of people, an attempt to impose a specific ideological or religious order. The masses, driven by slogans like "God is with us," become pawns in a much larger game, guided by political, economic, and religious interests.

Conclusion: Who is really their God?

History teaches us that, despite the teachings of love and peace from great spiritual leaders like Jesus, Buddha, and Krishna, religion has often been used to justify the worst atrocities. But the question remains: who is the God that justifies such acts of violence? Perhaps it is not the God of love and forgiveness, but a human construct, a means to justify the lust for power.

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